Media-ID: 5210

Caption

“I belong to nowhere. I belong to within.”

Description

This is Omar, a 22-year-old Druze activist. Despite his young age, he has already organized numerous demonstrations to highlight the rights and visibility of his community. His days often begin with countless phone calls, coordinating these demonstrations. When I followed Omar around the city, we talked about how he left his country at 13 and moved to Germany. What I aim to showcase in his life journey is this: while many people search for a place to belong — in cities, on roads, through people — Omar believes that true belonging begins within ourselves. We don’t need to force ourselves to fit in; we need to belong to our own selves.

This photo was taken as part of the project “Beyond The Frame: Young Perspectives on Diversity in Faith” by Neue Deutsche Medienmacherinnen. The project promoted a diverse and discrimination-sensitive portrayal of religions in the media. Between June and October 2025, young (photo)journalists took part in workshops on discrimination-sensitive photojournalism and, in an accompanied practical phase, portrayed young religious people from Berlin in their everyday lives. The project created new images beyond stereotypical representations of religions, empowered young BIPoC media professionals, promoted interreligious dialogue, and made the diversity of faith in urban areas visible.

Copyright

Image credit: Esra Shaiban | Instagram

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Original file

10.jpg

Filesize

11.69 MB

Size at 300 dpi

43.09 x 34.47 cm

Date of creation

20250822